Store to Door’s Long-Time Volunteer, Jean Pierce, to be Awarded The Peter R. Marsh Foundation’s Silent Servant Award
Jean Pierce will be receiving the Peter R. Marsh Foundation’s Silent Servant Award on April 4th, 2017 at Store to Door’s Volunteer Appreciation Event. The Peter R. Marsh Foundation’s Silent Servant Award recognizes citizens who selflessly and quietly serve others in need within their communities. Jean has been a volunteer with Store to Door for 24 years, she continues to volunteer weekly. She is responsible for shopping for food, small household items and prescriptions for elders and people with disabilities who are home-bound and have difficulty shopping on their own. Jean has also served on Store to Door’s Board of Directors since 2014. Jean is a shining example of how elders contribute to and enrich our community.
“When I was married, volunteering was just the thing you did. It made me feel better to help someone else,” said Pierce, who, at 91, has been volunteering the majority of her life. “There aren’t very many people my age who are volunteering. As a matter of fact, I’ve outlived most of my friends, and I think it’s one of the reasons I’ve managed to live this long.”
Store to Door supports independent living for Portland area seniors and people with disabilities by providing an affordable, personal, volunteer-based grocery shopping and delivery service. When Store to Door launched in 1989, it served 25 clients. In 2016, it served 572 clients, delivering 8,652 grocery orders to homebound Portlanders. Store to Door provides access to fresh food, medications, and household items and is the only service of its kind in Oregon.
“I talk to all kinds of people about volunteering because I know what it’s done for me, and I’m really sold on the idea,” she said. “I’m starting to see more and more young people are getting involved, and I really think that’s great. At the same time volunteers are helping others, they get benefits, too.”
Executive Director, Kiersten Ware said, “Store to Door is so lucky to have Jean’s dedication and involvement. She is an amazing role model for healthy aging and community engagement. She’s been with the organization almost the entire time we’ve been in existence and we rely on her for her perspective as we plan for the future – she is our resident “Sage”.
